Lorain: Ship collides with pier, police boat on Black River

CLEVELAND - The Coast Guard is investigating a marine casualty incident that occurred Wednesday night on the Black River near Lorain.

No injuries or pollution have been reported, although there is a report of damage done to a concrete pier and a Northern Border Initiative Boston Whaler operated by the Lorain Police Department that was moored near the Coast Guard Station in Lorain.

The Coast Guard learned the John D. Leitch, a 730-foot Canadian-flagged laker, collided with a pier and the boat at 7:20 p.m., Wednesday.

The vessel was outbound on the Black River approaching the Charles Bury Bridge at the time.

Response crews from Station Lorain and MSU Cleveland Harbor conducted the preliminary assessment and noted the damage to the police boat and pier.

The sheriff's boat was unoccupied at the time of the incident.

The sheriff's boat remains afloat and will be pulled out of the water Thursday evening to undergo a full damage assessment.

The John D. Leitch suffered minimal damage and was reported with scrapes to the hull's surface paint.

Alcohol testing of the vessel crew was administered by the captain as well as Station Lorain personnel and the City of Lorain Police Department when officers at approximately 9:30 p.m.